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((I DID work a double! And it wasn't as bad as my mind was saying it would be... EVEN IF I CLEANED UP ANTS ALL FREAKING MORNING.))

Jack pushed his horse harder, silently thinking that he might have to get a new mount. There were indeed pitfalls to stealing your latest ride. Nevertheless, forward he rode, teeth clenched tight, strong jaw set in a determined line. Like HELL he was going to agree to traveling with that kid.

"Yeah, I dun' think he'll give up either. But that don't mean we can't try 'n get to where we're goin' at a good pace," The man grumbled over the thudding of two sets of horse's hooves. "'N maybe then he'll get some sense knocked inta him. I dunno what it is 'bout that boy, but he's damn sure you'll be able ta tell him somethin' he wants ta hear... Why not try shoutin' it over yer shoulder or sommin'?"

With a bit of a sigh, Jack shook his head, brim of his hat momentarily catching the wind so he had to snap a hand up to keep it from flying too far. "I'm surprised that woman's not on HIS tail, roarin' at him ta get his sorry hide back ta where he belongs." The man turned to face Chetan, "I dun' like his sort. Always lookin' for trouble so they can run 'n tell someone who pretends ta care. If I can't get rid of him, maybe you oughta try talkin'. I'm THIS close ta connectin' my fist with his pointy 'lil face."

((haha, post... Dunno if it makes sense. *flops over and goes to bedzors*))

((YEAH. > sad ))

Jack didn't like that look. In fact, that look spoke of Chetan contemplating doing the exact thing that the man didn't WANT him to do. But, with a grin and quick turn of George, the Indian was doing just that. Jack closed his eyes and slowly let his breath out through his nose as he slowed his own horse to a halt. He didn't, however, turn around and start racing towards the kid he'd been trying to outrun for a good while now.

He watched at Chetan and Jim talked, idly pulling his gloves from his hands and resting them on the saddle in front of him. Jack then pulled out some tobacco and paper with which to roll it, and grumpily started making a cigarette. He raised an eyebrow at Chetan's laugh being carried across the dusty wind, and he shook his head as he flicked the end of a match with his thumbnail, lighting the homemade cigarette.

It was a good few moments before Chetan motioned for Jack to meet the two of them, but he just pulled his gloves on and gave an irritated smile. "No way in hell," he muttered and shook his head at the invitation.

But, Chetan wouldn't give up, it seemed. No, he then expressed the rule that Jack wasn't allowed to hit, and STILL insisted he go over to them. Even from his position a ways off, Jack could tell that Jim was being all too serious about this, and frankly didn't want to have anything to do with him. However, he knew that it wouldn't end until some sort of agreement was reached.

With a smoky sigh, Jack slowly led his own mount over to the two young men, pausing next to George. "Awright. What?" A few ashes fell from the rolled cigarette in the corner of his mouth. "And ya'd better have good reason for this, Chetan."

"An agreement." Great. Jack loved how he'd been included in it, being that it was his trip to start with. For a brief moment, he wasn't sure if bringing Chetan along had been such a good idea.

Though... The initial terms of the settlement sounded alright. The kid follows... Doesn't bother them, and if they ever make it to where his father's tribe was, well... Then that was that. "....ALL o'th' work?" A grin wanted to spread over his scruffy, square face. Now THAT... That was a deal he could handle. One in favor of him? No problem.

Jack locked eyes with Jim, his own green gaze boring into the child's. "It'll be rough, kid. An' I can't promise ya won't be shot either. But even if ya are, these animals expect to be watered 'n fed. Think ya can handle it?" He gave a grin with gritted teeth and shook Jim's hand. A little too hard.

Savoring the last of his cigarette, Jack flicked the butt into the sand and turned his mount. "Now, thar's another town jus' a dozen miles or so due west. They're a flowerin' town, got a lot o' business goin' on. We're headin' there." He looked back towards Chetan, and then Jim. "Word is, their sheriff is a hardass, so I dun' want anyone doin' anythin' STUPID, got it?"

That said, he spurred his horse forward, and off they went.

((YAY BUT GUH ITS SHORT... BUT I KEPT MY PROMISE, OH YES I DID! *shakes a fist*))

((I love how we've not changed our signatures in FOREVER.

ALSO I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS, So if you like, think of something, feel free. It ain't gonna ruin any of my plans. I'll sleep on this tonight though... See if I can't wrangle some of those ideas I had floating around...))

They arrived in the next town about mid-day. It was a dusty place, as all such towns were in that day, and much like its numerous siblings out on the western front, it bustled with a variety of people. Many were shopping along the strip-style series of stores, while there was a rowdy racket coming from the town's Saloon. The smell of horse manure and hard work was thick in the air - air that, while dry, sat very still. In the wake of the storm, there wasn't much moving the weather wanted to do, it seemed.

But that didn't seem to matter to Jack. No, he was fixated on getting to where he was going, and absolutely not caring that he may or may not have lost Jim in the process. The 'may not' option had won over, but at least the boy had stopped nagging him with that silent tailing he'd been doing earlier on.

Now, as it was in Jim's hometown, Chetan's being there did draw some undue attention. But in general, the folk here were more curious than angry, and thusfar had kept any trouble to themselves. This, of course, was a good thing - Jack didn't need anything else to draw attention to himself. Not when he hadn't even done anything... yet. That was to be saved for the next day. He would be meeting some old friends, and hopefully said get-together would merit some desirable results.

But first things first, and more important things thereafter: They got a place in a small inn, stabled their horses, and settled their things in their rooms. Then, Jack made his way through the streets and scouted out a tailor. Before they went inside, however, he glanced over at his red-skinned friend, "Ya know, it'll be a lot easier movin' around if we got you proper attire..." He frowned, "Think ya could handle it?"

And Jim... Well, if he wanted more clothes, the kid could buy them himself.

((HAHA THAT WAS REALLY BAD... But I'm sorta getting ideas now at least... LEMME KNOW IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE THIS TO WRITE TO. Then I'll... Write more. LULZ. *goes to BED*))

((Gah this might be crappy... BUT I'M GONNA POST DANG IT. *licks you*))

Jack frowned a bit. Was this going to be harder than he'd hoped? "Yeah, a shirt. Ya know, like how most folk wear 'round town. It'll make ya harder t'spot." He raised an eyebrow at the hat comment. He quite liked his hat in both form and function. As Chetan might say, pale man has pale eyes, and the Sun has much more sway over them than they'd care to admit.

After all, this was before the invention of sunglasses.

"A wolf it is, Chetan," Jack said, obviously relieved that he wasn't going to have to talk the young man into it. "An' I know this is jus' a temporary fix, but it'll make for better movin' 'round." He chewed the inside of his lip momentarily about the hair, but let it pass. Instead, he gave Chetan a little bit of a push towards the tailor, who had been standing there, looking somewhat put out. It was obvious he didn't want to fashion anything for one of those Red Men.

That is, until Jack gave the man a glare that made him change his mind. Though, begrudgingly.

It only took about an hour for Chetan to obtain his new wardrobe. And, the tailor was quite thankful for the tip Jack had given him to keep his mustached little mouth shut.

"Thar, that's not so bad, is it?" Jack had to choke back a laugh. Chetan looked... Odd. "An' th'boots'll have ta be brokin' in... An' try not ta waddle so much. Draws attention." It seemed, though, that Jack was in a better mood. At least there was that.

As they stepped back out into the sunshiny though dusty street, Jack glanced at the sun, then gave a bit of a frown. "We still have a little while before I've gotta meet a few people..." He scratched at his scruffy chin idly. "I'll bet there's time for a bit of a drink, and a bite ta eat. Shall we?" He threw a thumb towards the local bar/restaurant - the town's Saloon.

((Haha I dunno what your... Ideas are... So like... That's open enough, i hope? :O))

((CAN I JOIN AGAIN? xD I want to...I'm gonna use a new character, kay? AWESOME THANKS!))

"I win again." Came a voice from a group of men that circled around a table inside the bar. All the men groaned, some leaned back in their seats and rubbing their stubbly faces. "Hey now, it's not my fault ya'll are a bunch of stupid girly men." Some mumbling and retorts came in response as they huddled over the table again, shuffling cards and counting money and items of value. "You told me not to go easy on ya'll. Ya don't listen." A head popped up from the huddled men, and to anyone who was foreign to the town would have been shocked.

Amongst the ruffled and dirty men was a stunning woman, her bright red hair was pulled back neatly, a wavy piece fell to the side of her face as if it was done on purpose. Her skin was a pale tan, naturally pale, but tanned from being outside often. Freckles dotted the bridge of her nose and cheeks. Her outfit wasn't normal for women, not in the least. She wore a man's shirt with a leather vest to hug her curves, along with dusty, form pants. On her west was a large belt that held two fancy guns at the sides. To her left was a cowboy hat that was put to the side so she could pay attention easier. (She believed if you had something on your head you thought a bit fuzzier.) Her body was slim, from obvious labor and work, a slight hint of muscle appeared on her arms when she moved them to reach out for the cards, her fingernails painted a dark burgundy red. She cared about her appearance, even if she felt more like one of the boys than one of the girls.

"Same game, fella's?" She asked, her voice thick with that western accent, making her even more attractive in some aspects. All the men grunted and said their agreements. They all knew her well, most of the people knew her. She was pretty much the only woman who didn't care what others thought. There were times she was known as a criminal too, always getting into fights of some sort that end up with guns and shooting. "Should I go easy this time?"

"Maybe you should get outta this one." A bigger man said, scratching his head in frustration.

"Awww come on now. Don't be a spoiled sport."

"Yeah, maybe you should." Agreed a scrawnier, younger, man. "Take your winnings and leave."

"Leave? You want me to leave?" Her green eyes widened and she furrowed her brows. "How about I just opt out of this one and watch you, give you some tips." Slim fingers drummed the table and took a drink of alcohol from a mug. "Just hang on a minute though, I need some fresh air." She declared and jumped up quickly, her guns smacking her thighs. Some of the men grinned as they examined her body before she gave them a menacing look and strutted from the bar.

In her hands she counted the gold, figuring out how much she could buy with that much, which was a decent amount of a poker game. "They're so gullible." She said happily and smirked deviously. Calmly, she put her hat on her head and looked to the side two see a funny looking group, one darker than normal for any white folks. "What's this?" She raised a brow and noticed Jack with a bit of enthusiasm.

((Hopefully you don't mind me making them know each other? Hahaha...it'll make things a bit more interestin' I think.))

"Well look who it is! With a red skin no less! I wouldn't expect anything more." She called out with a wicked grin. "Poor guy look terrible in those clothes!" Her chin lifted a bit and she pocketed her gold into a leather sack and tied it to her belt loops. "Been a while." She moved closer to the group, tucking her loose hair behind her freckled ear. "You coming to get a drink? I think you should play against those guys in there, a bunch of losers. I got a good bit of money from them."

After she got close enough to not have to raise her voice, she examined Chetan. "You look a bit uncomfortable there, fella. A shame people can't be open minded about the clothes, eh?" Her eyes followed over to Jim with curiosity. "How did you get with these two, mmm?" She laughed and shrugged. "You gonna introduce me, Jackie boy?" She asked of Jack, placing a hand to her hip and tilting her head.

((Yay! I hope she'll be fun. haha...and Lala, you can make things up for them too...if you waaaant. Hopefully you didn't mind me taking that liberty.))

((HAHA YAY! And I'm sorry...hopefully it didn't change your thoughts in a bad way. :<

Yeah I forgot to say her name, and never realized. XD I decided it to be Ambrosina. But I think she goes by Rosi or Rosina or Ambros...Ambro. I guess whatever people decide to make of her name really. x]

I think she'll be fun. Since I have no set design for her, it allows me to change things around and what-not!

YAY! *prances*))